Having an excuse to watch infomercials and actually buy stuff all in the name of research? Too good to be true! I start out by perusing a few of my favorites and checking out the As Seen on TV website in case I've missed anything good.
Of course, the best part about these products is you can buy them from the comfort of your home and not have to subject yourself to the judgmental stares of store clerks. But, since I need to get my research done in a week, and can't wait for everything to be shipped, I head out to Bed, Bath & Beyond to pick up a few things. And, yeah, it's kind of embarrassing to buy Pajama Jeans, a facial hair trimmer, and a Slim Away belt in person. The checkout guy was perfectly pleasant (and in true "this is my life" form, ridiculously cute) but I still found myself lying and casually mentioning that the items were for a friend. Don't think he bought it though.
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Spa day!
Well, OK, it's an at-home spa day. There are a few gadgets that I don't have time for during the workweek, but still want to try. First up, that super-fun facial hair trimmer I had to buy in person. The Micro Touch Magic claims to be extra gentle (the commercial always shows them using it on a balloon, works wonders on those pesky hirsute balloons) so I'm not too nervous. My skin is a little red afterwards but that's it. The bummer? It's so gentle that there's still a fair amount of hair left when I've finished. Kind of a letdown.
Next, the ubiquitous PedEgg. In reality, the abrasive surface isn't that different from other foot tools (like the Microplane) but the easy-to-hold shape does make it a breeze to use. My feet are callus-free in no time.
Last up has to be one of the weirdest things in my new arsenal. It's the Blade Buddy, a tool that sharpens your disposable razors so you can use them much longer than you normally can. I love this idea since razors are freakin' expensive, so I'm really hoping it works. It seems simple enough, you coat it with shaving cream and run the razor along the surface a few times. I don't notice anything different the first time I use it, but by the end of the week I realized my razor was still sharp-ish, or at least sharper than it would have been otherwise. Pretty cool.
I finish my spa day by curling up on the couch with my Slanket (which I love and have no shame using) and watching -- what else? -- more infomercials.
I have a problem. Well, to be honest I have a few problems (seasonal allergies and an aversion to exercise for starters) but today I'm talking about one in particular: my addiction to infomercials.
I can't help it, those cheery announcers with their simple solutions to problems I never knew I had, suck me right in and before I know it, I'm convinced that I need a Lint Lizard or InstaHang to feel complete.
Fortunately, the heady feeling of finally solving all of life's tribulations for only three easy payments of $19.95 typically wears off once I change the channel (or more accurately, my husband discovers my dazed state and open wallet and grabs the remote out of my hand). So I don't succumb to the "as seen on TV" allure all that often -- OveGlove and Slanket not withstanding.
But what if these miracle products really are miracles, and my looks (and life) would vastly improve by owning each and every one of them? There's only one way to find out, so ...
This week, I've embarked on a quest to try as many beauty-related infomercial wonders as I can to see whether, life is rosier when you're using "as seen on TV" goodies -- or if these products are better left in the world of endlessly chipper hosts and flashing neon graphics.
